New Tournament IS Dongseo Busan Open Victory Challenge, Champion Squad Including Lee So-young, Kim Min-sun 5, Park Hyun-kyung Assembles
[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] It is the Busan trip of 'overseas player' Kim Hyo-joo (25, Lotte).
She has declared her participation in the IS Dongseo Busan Open (total prize money 1 billion KRW) of the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour, held on the 10th at Stonegate Golf Club in Gijang-gun, Busan (par 72, 6,491 yards). This is a newly established event this year. A total of 120 players will compete over three days in a 54-hole stroke play format to determine the winner. Kim Hyo-joo is focusing on the domestic stage while the U.S. Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour has been suspended due to the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
This season, she has demonstrated tremendous power by entering the 'top 5' three times, including one victory, in six tournaments. At the Lotte Cantata Ladies Open held in Jeju on the 7th of last month, she ended a long win drought. She defeated Kim Se-young (27, Mirae Asset) in a playoff battle to claim her 11th career win, her first in three years and six months since the Hyundai China Ladies Open in December 2016. On the 21st of last month, she added a tie for second place at the Kia Motors Korea Women's Open.
Both her previously troublesome iron shots and putting have regained their feel, and she currently ranks first in average score, second in prize money, and third in points for the season-long award. It is unfortunate that Kim Hyo-joo has encountered injury setbacks. On the final day of the BC Card-Hankyung Ladies Cup on the 28th of last month, she withdrew due to severe neck stiffness. She skipped last week's McCol Yongpyong Resort Open to focus on conditioning. She fired up her fighting spirit, saying, "I will be the first to reach the milestone of two wins."
Domestic number one Choi Hye-jin (21) is challenging for her first win of the season again. Despite a frightening upward trend with seven consecutive 'top 10' finishes, she has yet to claim a title. Lee So-young (23, both Lotte), who ranks first in prize money and points and second in average score, is competing in the 'two-win race.' Kim Min-seon 5 (25, Korea Land & Trust), the champion of the McCol Yongpyong Resort Open, is aiming for back-to-back victories. Champion groups including Park Hyun-kyung (20, Korea Land & Trust), Lee Da-yeon (23, Mediheal), and Kim Ji-young 2 (24, SK Networks) have also joined the competition.
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